READING ROOM
Here you can find copies of articles, reports, and book chapters written by Crooked House members and collaborators, about youth theatre, drama pedagogy, the use of theatre in education, and on a range of other theatre-related matters. There are reports on several of our projects, including theatre and mental health initiatives, international theatre exchange work, and youth theatre development work.
The Reading Room has been designed to be an accessible resource library for students, researchers and anyone curious about the impact and scope of our work since 1993
Come Seeling Night: Notes for Leaving Cert students and teachers on 'Macbeth'
Here are notes on our interpretation of Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' arising out of our production on the play in May 2018. The notes are for Leaving Cert students and teachers, but may also be of interest to a general reader. Written by Peter Hussey, May 2018.
Why stage Shakespeare with young people?
Classic texts, particularly the plays of Shakespeare, provide challenging artistic encounters for both young people and directors. They are a rich source of material for personal and aesthetic growth. This short article makes a case for producing Shakespeare with youth theatres. Written by Peter Hussey.
Personal Testimonies: young people's reasons for being in youth theatre
In this document are gathered statements from young people involved in Kildare Youth Theatre in response to the question, 'What does Kildare Youth Theatre mean to you?' They span seven years, from 2008 to 2015.
Many of those who wrote statements have gone on to third level acting degree programmes, or film studies, or are working in the creative industries today (January 2015).
Notes for Imaginers
By Peter Hussey
Notes for Imaginers explores the geography of liberating theatre in the context of adult education, community development and social justice. It looks at those practices of theatre that attempt to engage the audience in liberating reflective discourse: performances that are created by the audience as much as by the performers - a drama that depends upon the release of a collective imagination in order for it to exist. The article is published as Chapter 2 in Unsettling The Horses: interrogating Adult Education Perspectives (ed Anne Ryan and Tony Walsh) by MACE: Maynooth Adult and Community Education, 2004.
The War Against People
Written by Dr Bríd Connolly and Peter Hussey
This is an exploration of the role of adult education for critical democracy explored through a dialogue between a theatre-maker and a
feminist. The place of applied theatre, and of participatory theatre, is examined in relation to encouraging people to resist the erosion of their rights and values. This was published in the Irish journal of Adult and Community Education, The Adult Learner 2013 edited by Rob Mark.
The Jesus of Rio Syndrome
Written by Peter Hussey
This article examines the tendency towards colonisation of audiences and learners alike in the fields of theatre and of education.
This was published in the Irish journal of Adult and Community Education, The Adult Learner 1999 edited by Liam Bane.
Youth Theatre and Suicide Prevention
By Peter Hussey
Can engagement in theatre really help prevent suicide? Here, Peter Hussey details a number of transferrable, life-enhancing skills that young people can develop uniquely through the practice of good youth theatre.
Headspace Project Report (2012)
Headspace was an initiative of Kildare Youth Services and Crooked House over 2 years in North Kildare which used theatre programmes to explore the impact of negative mental health on young people's lives. Compiled by TSA Consultancy for Kildare Youth Services.
Life Force Project Report (2009)
The core focus of the Life Force Project was concerned with enabling community groups from Tallaght, Swords and Ringsend, in particular young people, to examine suicide, parasuicide and preventative suicide related issues through a theatre programme. The project was also concerned with developing the knowledge and skill base of the community groups in terms of suicide prevention strategies.
This report was commissioned by Blue Drum, the project organisers.